AFC Women’s Champions League 2025-26 preliminary: East Bengal beat Phnom Penh Crown FC 1-0 in opener

Kolkata football giants East Bengal FC notched up a vital win in their opening Group E match of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025 preliminary stage as they beat hosts Phnom Penh Crown FC 1-0 in Cambodia on Monday.

Playing at the National Sports Complex, Ugandan forward Fazila Ikwaput, a new signing for Anthony Andrews’ East Bengal women’s football team for the 2025-26 season, struck the winning goal in the 70th minute.

This was also East Bengal’s debut match in the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) competition.

The Moshal Girls qualified for the continental competition by winning the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League (IWL).

Despite Phnom Penh Crown FC enjoying the home support, East Bengal created multiple chances and dominated the first half.

Fazila even had the ball in the back of the home team’s net three minutes from half-time but the goal was disallowed.

Goalless at half-time, the East Bengal women increased the intensity of attacks in the second half.

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